Scanning SQUID Microscope for Studying Vortex Matter in Type-II Superconductors [electronic resource] /
Finkler, Amit.author.
Common methods of local magnetic imaging display either a high spatial resolution and relatively poor field sensitivity (MFM, Lorentz microscopy), or a relatively high field sensitivity but limited spatial resolution (scanning SQUID microscopy). Since the magnetic field of a nanoparticle or nanostructure decays rapidly with distance from the structure, the achievable spatial resolution is ultimately limited by the probe-sample separation. This thesis presents a novel method for fabricating the smallest superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) that resides on the apex of a very sharp tip. The nanoSQUID-on-tip displays a characteristic size down to 100 nm and a field sensitivity of 10^-3 Gauss/Hz^(1/2). A scanning SQUID microsope was constructed by gluing the nanoSQUID-on-tip  to a quartz tuning-fork. This enabled the nanoSQUID to be scanned within nanometers of the sample surface, providing simultaneous images of sample topography and the magnetic field distribution. This microscope represents a significant improvement over the existing scanning SQUID techniques and is expected to be able to image the spin of a single electron.
Description based upon print version of record.
Doctoral thesis accepted by the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction -- Scientific Background -- Open Questions -- Goal -- Methods -- SQUID-on-tip Fabrication -- Tuning Fork Assembly -- Scanning SQUID Microscopy -- Fabrication of Samples -- Results -- SQUID-on-tip Characterization -- Imaging -- Discussion -- Appendices.
Common methods of local magnetic imaging display either a high spatial resolution and relatively poor field sensitivity (MFM, Lorentz microscopy), or a relatively high field sensitivity but limited spatial resolution (scanning SQUID microscopy). Since the magnetic field of a nanoparticle or nanostructure decays rapidly with distance from the structure, the achievable spatial resolution is ultimately limited by the probe-sample separation. This thesis presents a novel method for fabricating the smallest superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) that resides on the apex of a very sharp tip. The nanoSQUID-on-tip displays a characteristic size down to 100 nm and a field sensitivity of 10^-3 Gauss/Hz^(1/2). A scanning SQUID microsope was constructed by gluing the nanoSQUID-on-tip  to a quartz tuning-fork. This enabled the nanoSQUID to be scanned within nanometers of the sample surface, providing simultaneous images of sample topography and the magnetic field distribution. This microscope represents a significant improvement over the existing scanning SQUID techniques and is expected to be able to image the spin of a single electron.
Spectroscopy.
Microscopy.
Magnetism.
Magnetic materials.
Nanotechnology.
Superconductivity.
Superconductors.
Spectroscopy and Microscopy.
Magnetism, Magnetic Materials.
Nanotechnology.
Strongly Correlated Systems, Superconductivity.